Music and singing has always been a part of her for as long as she can remember. Gina was exposed to all kinds of music at a tender age and was active in choirs, solo performances and drama/musical theater productions in school. Although she has a degree in business, she chose her passion and started doing Top 40’s and popular songs to earn a living but was listening to Jazz, blues, gospel and broadway music during her spare time. She believes that the key to a successful singer is the ability to listen to others and to yourself.
Her performance has taken her to many parts of Asia while based in Kuala Lumpur, and has traveled to South America, Australia, Europe and the US. One of her cherished moments was performing live at the Cotton Club in New York with their in-house swing band.
Based in Malaysia, she’s performed with some of the top notch musicians. She was the vocalist for Asiabeat (with Lewis Pragasam), Face First (with Greg Lyons), Aztec Jam (with Stuart Henderson), Jungle Jazz (with Dodong Jumawan), the Solianos, and Face First, Mezanotte band with Greg Lyons, Eye2eyejazzmix, the Solianos and Franciscos based in KL, Mike Veerapen, Patrick Terbrack of Chicago, WVC Trio with Tay Cher Siang, Broery Marantika, violinist Ryo, and Harvey Malaiholo of Indonesia, Stu MacAskie, and currently with her own GP Jazz Quartet performming around the region. She also frequents performances for visiting foreign dignitaries and has perform 3 times for His Majesty, The King of Malaysia, once for the duke of Argyle, a few occasions for the Sultans of different states and recently the FIP Royal Polo World Cup 2011 with the Prime Minister in attendance. She also performs as a vocalist for the Malaysia Airlines Jazz band, KL City Orchestra and Mosaic Music with violinist Dennis Lau.
She went to Sabah, East Malaysia in 1999, and met Sabah’s finger style guitarist Roger Wang. In August 2000, both did a special performance at Shangri-la Tanjung Aru Resort. A year she later joined the JV Quartet and has been active in the Sabah, Borneo music scene. In August 15, 2004 she performed once again with highly acclaimed Roger Wang and Friends Concert held at the Sabah Trade Center .
Her influences include Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitgerald, Patti Austin, Anita Baker, Dinah Washington, Diane Schuur, Diane Reeves, Etta James, Sarah Vaughn, BB King, Porter, Gershwin, vocal groups and Big Bands. Having Spanish as part of her heritage, Brazilian and Latin music forms a big part of her repertoire as well like the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Tania Maria, Flora Purim, Elaine Elias and Celia Cruz.
Gina Panizales is currently active in the Kuala Lumpur jazz circuit and performed at the Riau Jazz Festival in 2007, Indonesia. She has done radio appearances (recently at 90.3 FM Jazz Selecta) and was featured at Radio TV Hongkong - Jazzin It Up Jazz programme with Angelita Li, and several segments for Radio TV Malaysia's Down Memory Lane Jazz special. She is also active in events, private, and corporate functions around town and frequently performs at top jazz joints like Nero Fico Jazzeria, Mezze Lounge, No Black Tie and 7ateNine at the Ascott, Kuala Lumpur.
On April 30, 2008, she released her self produced, debut album -- “FINALLY- Gina Panizales” co produced by Roger Wang. It's a contemporary mix of Jazz, Latin and R & B which she partly co-wrote snd is an honest reflection of her passion, musical journey, inspirations, and influences. It showcases her love for life, and how to live it to the fullest when you know what you want.
And on Dec 22, 2009 released “Loves Tapestry”, a stripped down acoustic love song album on audiophiles released by Poppop Music director Leslie Loh. This album was voted CD of the month of Hongkong's Audiophile Magazine for March 2010.
She celebrated her 25 years of music with a concert “A Golden Jazz Evening” at No Black Tie on Oct 9, 2010 with some of Malaysia's topnotch jazz musos. Now a member of Music Authors Copyright Protection (internationally affiliated), she hopes to write and collaborate more with other artists.
What the future holds, she doesnt know yet, but she'll surely be around for a while performing, composing and enjoying the craft she loves best.
Press Quotes:
”She might be new to the game, but Gina certainly knows how to
entice potential fans to her melodic brand of jazz, and “Finally” is
her bait. Listen to it, and you could just be hooked.”
-Rama Lohan, Star Newspaper
“Gina Panizales and her Jazz quartet put on a magnificent show,
a fine finale to the already wonderful KK Jazz Festival 2010”
- Joanna Funk, SabahSongs Music Blog, 19 June 2010
Awards:
Music Awardee, 'der Meistersingers' Choral Group
For performance at the National Choral Competition at the
Folk
Arts Theatre, Manila
Awarded by West Visayas State College, Philippines
School Year 1976 //
Music Awardee, Solo Artiste
For Solo Performance of 'Sa Kabukiran' at Folk Arts Theater,
Manila
Awarded by WVSC, Iloilo City, Philippines, School Year 1977
//
Speech and Drama Awardee, West Visayas State College,
Phil.1977 //
First prize winner National Panasonic Singing Competition
Kuala Lumpur Malaysia September 1992
